A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer was arrested on charges of false imprisonment and battery following a September 4 traffic stop. Former Officer Reginald McKinney, 46, was accused of making unwanted physical advances toward a woman driver he had pulled over.
The events leading to the arrest were detailed during a news conference by Sheriff T.K. Waters. According to News4JAX, McKinney allegedly commented on the driver’s appearance during the stop and asked for her phone number. He then instructed the driver to follow him to a different location, where his inappropriate conduct became more serious.
The situation became more complicated when McKinney disabled his body-worn camera, violating Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office policy, as confirmed by Sheriff Waters in statements to both First Coast News and The Florida Times-Union. Without this crucial footage, the details of the incident rely heavily on the victim's account.
The impact of the officer's actions, as described by Waters, lies not only in the abuse of power but also in the damage to community trust. This arrest is the 14th case of employee misconduct leading to an arrest within the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 2024. "When a member of this agency violates the law, and I've said it time and time again ... I hope our officers are listening and I hope the public listens. We are not going to tolerate it. We're going to treat them like they should be treated, held to a standard, held to a higher standard than our public," Waters stated, as reported by First Coast News.
